Senior Crown advocate Phillip Evans said the Crown would disclose its case by Friday 10 October and the defence should give notification of its witnesses by October 21. He said a plea and case management hearing would take place on Friday 31 October.

Judge Richardson, QC, ordered Heald to stand as he told him: “It is very important you co-operate fully with your defence statement. In the mean time you will be remanded in custody.

“You will next be back before the court in October when pleas will be taken and we will see where we go then.”

Mr Heald, who was arrested at Parkgate in Rotherham on Friday 25 July, was remanded in custody.